eel

1 of 2

noun

ˈēl 

1

a

: any of numerous voracious elongated snakelike bony fishes (order Anguilliformes) that have a smooth slimy skin, lack pelvic fins, and have the median fins confluent around the tail compare american eel

b

: any of numerous other elongated fishes (as of the order Synbranchiformes)

2

: any of various nematodes (such as the vinegar eel)

eellike

ˈēl-ˌlīk 

adjective

eely

ˈē-lē 

adjective

Illustration of eel

• eel 1a

eel

2 of 2

verb

eeled; eeling; eels

transitive + intransitive

1

a

: to fish for eels see also eeling

b

: to fish with eels as bait

2

: to move or make (one's way) sinuously or insidiously : worm

Stories my Russian friends had told me about the hundreds who were trampled at Stalin's funeral came back to me. Finally, we gave up and eeled our way out of there.

—Ian Frazier

Did you know?

There are more than 500 fish species known as eels. They are slender, elongated, and usually scaleless, with long dorsal and anal fi ns that are continuous around the tail tip. Eels are found in all seas, from coastal regions to the mid-depths. Freshwater eels are active, predatory fish with small embedded scales. They grow to maturity in freshwater and return to the sea, where they spawn and die. The transparent young drift to the coast and make their way upstream. Freshwater eels, considered valuable food fish, include species ranging from 4 in (10 cm) to about 111⁄2 ft (3.5 m) long.

Examples of eel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Mazzotti noted evidence suggests the eels are responsible for some declines in crayfish and amphibians. —News Service Of Florida, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026

Her saddle bag collection is vast, too, with versions in tie-dye, eel, camo, and velvet with pom poms. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2026

Reports and images have been circulated by local media of dead turtles, eels and fish washing up on Mexican beaches and floating near shorelines. —Félix Márquez, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026

Despite that, reports and images have been circulated by local media of dead turtles, eels and fish washing up on Mexican beaches and floating near shorelines. —Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English ele, from Old English ǣl; akin to Old High German āl eel

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1922, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing eel

• American eel
• conger eel
• electric eel
• moray eel
• vinegar eel

Rhymes for eel

• beal
• chiel
• ciel
• creel
• deal
• diel
• feel
• feil
• heal
• heel
• keel
• kneel

Kids Definition

eel

noun

ˈē(ə)l 

plural eels or eel

: any of numerous long snakelike fishes that have a smooth slimy skin and the fins in the middle of the back and bottom continuous around the tail

eellike

ˈē(ə)l-ˌlīk 

adjective